The Dillon tribune., 1887-12-16

looking way back beyond the time " hen
some OF the ladies and gentlemen present
were children. seem to see the canvas
covered wagon again rolling along the
great channels OF travel, filling with life
the converging veins of the complicated
road system OF the Mississippi valley, OF
the great Lake States and of the South
west. Twenty four years seems long
time in anticipation, but though RETROSPECT.
lively short, the days when we crossed the
plains seem like dream.
To the Eastern man familiar only with
travel by rail, boat or stage, with regular
meals, under agreeable circumstances, the
prairie schooner is symbolcal OF exposure
and discontort-to the man of camp. fire
experience, suggestive OF shelter and com
Carasive enjoyment.
From the North, East and South came
the white canopied burden bearers, but sci.
dom from the West. In that direction the
"star OF empire leads, and BY thrces, ,wos
eonsin. from The fertile prairies OF Hin
ois, and from the land OF hog and homi
N.Y. across Kansas, Iowa. and Nebras
Ia, never stopping, never diverging. they
ceaselessiy roll towards the West The
sun rises ana sets, the weeks come and go
and still they roll, and keep rolling. On
through dust anl. mud, and grassy mead
ows, over swa,nps and creeks, and rivers
BY 'ord and ferry, across mountains, over
valleys, among tedious sand hills, aiwavs
rolling, rolling, rolling,
At first Journey to the tar Western Ter
sitorie> seemed great undertaking, an
appalling venture. Home must be lett be.
hind, friends must part, perhaps forever
she acrunulations of the bes, par, o. a
tlts' time mus, be sacrificed or EXCHANGED
sor movable goods or the means ct trans.
eo.,a,ion.
Mothers WHO had resisted the famous
FIXES feaS excitement, and, after its TAI!
ure. had eXclaimed, II told YOU So" nov
became alarmed at the draft, or at coustau,
" recurring symptoms OF patriotism breaA
ing cut among husbands and sons, a.
ev!nced ~ war meetings and recruiting
salIies, Reluctantly ani ,ear,u!ly consented
20 abandon al! and, packing few vaiua.
hlrs, with the bare>t necesSa,ies into a
three by twelve space, and follow their
loved ones to the lana OF great ex2ec,..
,iOnS.
Fathers, toilins on a .or,y OF eishty.ac,v
aarm 10 build 4 home for the little ones,
each year, perhaps, finding tax none, Is
hard 70 raise As previously, and prospects
growing no brighter, lonsed to try their
fortunes in the land o, &C i, aud to grasp
the opportunities OF the West.
Some. vino had been 70 California in il.
pal'ny days, recalling former mistakes and
neglected opportunities, were resolved ,c
make the experience OF III. past prove tbs
capital OF the future.
Visions Of fun and fortune ioa,cd in ,ls
minds OF the more youthful gold seekers
while grand parents, auut> and cousins
with tales uI painted savages and >ca!pins
knives ever fresh in mind. bade sal adivu>
anI thansed the stars tina, they were con
tent to be buried b. the graves OF ,he.
fathers.
But now, that the ice is bloken, n,
a:>comtor'> OF camp lite no longer new
and the hardship that at first seemed srea
has been ,ni,isa'ed b! "pu!l1r. up" a
touses, new idea begins to dawn upor
tls mind OF the traveller; open air is 5;
re;reshing; SO many novel sights and e>